Journal 2

January 28, 2006

gallery 2In about 6 hours, we will be leaving for our trek up Mt. Sinai. This is
the part of the trip that solidified my decision. When I read about God
descending on Mt. Sinai and then saw pictures of the last group up there,
I knew it was something I wanted to do. And so I just read that passage
again. "Mt. Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire." (Exodus 19:18) I realize there will be hundreds of other people up there, and I realize this might not be the same exact mountain, but I am still stunned. I only hope that I can soak up every second on the mountaintop, that I can find time to speak with God just as Moses did, that I can let my imagination run wild at the thought of the mountain shaking and enveloped in smoke. I am ready for yet another speechless moment as I try to comprehend the connection between the God of the Old Testament and the God I worship today."

These words I wrote Monday evening are just a glimpse into my thoughts during
the past two weeks. I am at a loss for words in trying to describe what it
has felt like to read the Bible stories as I'm living in places where they
happened. We were in sailboats on the Nile River, where Moses floated in a
basket as a baby. We went snorkeling in the Red Sea; waters that God parted
so the Israelites could escape from Pharoah's army. We climbed Mt. Sinai where
God spoke many times to Moses. Today we stood next to the Jordan River where
Jesus was baptized by John and then visited Elijah's Hill which is the place
where they believe Elijah ascended into Heaven on his chariot of fire. We
finished the day by standing on Mt. Nebo where Moses stood as God showed him
the promised land just before he died. Being here makes me realize I am not
as far from the Bible as I once thought. On Thursday night I slept on top
of a mountain in the middle of a desert in Jordan and saw God in the millions
of stars and then in the beautiful sunrise a few hours later. I believe the
Israelites stood in awe of landscapes similar to these. I believe they also
dealt with exhaustion, annoyances, sickness, and frustration just like our
group has. We are on a pilgrimage and while ours will last a mere 14 weeks
instead of 40 years, I believe God is leading us just as He led His people
out of Egypt many centuries ago.